Delta in talks with Airbus, Boeing to buy jets -Bloomberg

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc is in talks
with Airbus SAS and Boeing Co to buy $1 billion or more
new jets, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the
matter.

The Atlanta-based airline is looking at current versions of
the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, not the newest versions, likely
meaning a deeper discount to retail prices than normal, the news
agency quoted one person as saying. ()

The talks are for an order of twenty-four to thirty planes
and deliveries would start in three to five years, it said.

Lindsay McDuff, a spokeswoman for Delta, told Reuters that
the company does not comment on industry rumor and speculation.

The deal could have a book value of at least $1 billion,
based on prices tracked by consultant Avitas of Chantilly,
Virginia, Bloomberg said.

Delta, the No. 2 airline behind United Continental Holdings
, is looking for a deal in which it could exchange some
of its 50-seat regional jets for new planes from Boeing or
Airbus, similar to a deal with Bombardier Inc made in
December.

The sale of old aircraft is a part of a cost-cutting
program at the company, which includes retiring smaller, less
efficient planes from its fleet.